On
26 July 1916, the Chairman of the Governors, Lord Heneage spoke
to the School Cadet Company and Parents (possibly on the day this
photograph was taken) and the following extract from his speech
was reported in the De Astonian of Christmas 1916….

“…After all, war was a serious game, but it was a game
to a certain extent. All the boys in front of him knew that when
they played football, or cricket, if one on the field got out of
place it might contribute towards losing the match. It was no use
unless each player kept his place. In war there was a place for
every man, and attention to detail was quite essential…”

IN
MEMORY OF THOSE OLD BOYS
OF DE ASTON SCHOOL WHO GAVE
THEIR LIVES IN TWO WORLD WARS

School
Admissions Book:
“Anderson, Clifford W., born 23 July 1898, admitted May 3rd
1910, son of Mrs. L.A. Anderson, Butcher and Farmer of Westlands,
Westfield Road, Barton on Humber. Left Easter 1912.”

Obituary
on pages 195/6 of the Christmas 1918 De Astonian Magazine.

“Another
Old De Astonian who has given his life for his fellows is Lieut.
C. W. Anderson, of the Royal Field Artillery. He obtained a commission
in the above mentioned Regiment on joining the army in October 1915
and first saw active service in France in February 1917.

On November 5th of that same year Lieut. Anderson was transferred
with the British Force to Italy, where he remained for 5 months,
returning to France in March 1918, just before the British retreat.
He became a full Lieutenant before going to Italy.

During the summer of this year he was on the staff at Headquarters
for two months, acting as ADC to the General of his brigade. He
subsequently returned to the front line and was killed in action
just before he was due to take up his ADC duties again.

Mrs Anderson, the late gallant officer’s Mother, has been
the recipient of a letter from his Brigadier-General in which he
states that all his fellow officers spoke most highly of him, that
he was invaluable to the Brigade, and that whatever he was given
to do he did quite regardless of personal danger or inconvenience.

We desire to express our sincere regret at the death of this brave
officer, and to offer our deepest sympathies to his bereaved family.”

BEECHEY

Frank
[Collett] Reeve

Second
Lieutenant, 13th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. Died of wounds
14 November 1916. Born 12 October 1886. Died aged 36. Son of the
Rev P W Thomas Beechey and Amy Beechey of 197 Wragby Rd, Lincoln.
His brothers Bernard Reeve, Charles Reeve and Harold Reeve also
fell. A teacher was the second, of eight, Beechey brothers to give
his life for his country; his brother Harold is listed below. His
legs were torn off by a Somme shell in November 1916 - and his death
was one of the cruellest tricks that fate played on his mother Amy
and her five daughters. Frank, aged 30 when he died, had lain in
No Man's Land under enemy fire from dawn until dusk before an army
doctor risked his life to crawl out and administer morphine. Two
days after getting official notice of his death Amy received a card
from Frank that read: "Wounded... but going on well."
Grief-stricken and bewildered, Amy fired off a telegram to the War
Office asking if her son really had died. The brief, devastating
reply confirmed her worst fears. Buried in Warlincourt Halte British
Cemetery, Saulty, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row J. Grave 8.

Page
99 De Astonian of Christmas 1916

“Lieutenant Frank Beechey, the third son of the late Revd.
P W T Beechey, Rector of Friesthorpe, died of wounds received in
November this year. He was wounded dangerously in the head and succumbed
to his injuries after a very short interval. "

Page
90 De Astonian Magazine.

“Lieutenant
F.R. Beechey
Write we his name, whose loss we now deplore
Upon the roll of those who come no more,
His course is run, he did, he gave his best,
And passes thus, with honour to his rest,
As on the field of sport he played the game
And faced with cheerful mien what ever came
So in the sterner game of war he died,
And many will miss that ever smiling face,
Regret serves not to fill the empty space.
HWP”

BEECHEY

Harold
Reeve

Photo
1907 cricket team

Lance
Corporal 200, 48th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Killed
in action at Bullecourt 10 April 1917. Aged 26. Born Friesthorpe
Rectory, Lincoln. Pupil ar De Aston School 1899-1900. Emigrated
to Australia aged 22. Enlisted 9 September 1914 Perth, Western Australia.
Farmer by trade. Perhaps the most tragic of the Beechey brothers;
brother of Frank (above). Son of the Rev P W Thomas Beechey and
Amy Beechey of 197 Wragby Rd, Lincoln. His brothers Bernard Reeve,
Charles Reeve and Frank Collett Reeve also fell. Having fought Turks
and dysentery at Gallipoli, he survived the Somme with a wound that
took him back to England. He wrote home: "Very lucky, nice
round shrapnel through arm and chest, but did not penetrate ribs.
Feel I could take it out myself with a knife. "But there was
little sympathy for the injured or battle-weary in Kitchener's army
and he was patched up and sent back to fight again. He wrote bitterly
to his mum: "To deny a fellow the right of a final leave seems
to me to be miserable spitefulness on their part." Harold,
a farmer in Australia, was killed in action in Bullecourt in April
1917 aged 26.

His
few possessions - a pair of hairbrushes, a language book, a wallet
and a photo of his sweetheart - were returned to his mother. In
her only surviving response to the tragedy overwhelming her family,
Amy wrote: "Thank you very much for your kindness in sending
me details of the death of my son L/Cpl HR Beechey 48 Battalion.
"I am thankful that he did not suffer long. Poor boy, he had
been invalided twice and wounded once and we hoped he would come
through."

No
known grave. Commemorated on Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme,
France.

“Another Old De Astonian has given his life for his fellows.
It is with deep sorrow that we record the death in France of H.
R. Beechey, who was at school from September 1902 until 1907. He
is the fourth son to be taken in this great struggle of the late
Revd. P W T Beechey of Friesthorpe, (Editor: Five) and Mrs. Beechey
and our deepest sympathies lie with Mrs. Beechey and family in their
great sorrow.

H. R. Beechey after learning farming in England joined one of his
brothers in Western Australia in 1913. When war was proclaimed they
both joined the Australian Forces. He came to Egypt and thence to
Gallipoli, where he fought, being invalided twice, the second time
being sent home to England. Later he was sent to Egypt and afterwards
to France, where he was wounded while taking messages across the
open. He came home to recover and finally returned to France in
November 1916, being killed by a bomb on April 10th, 1917. His death
was mercifully speedy. May his soul rest in peace !”

BIRD

Charles Henry

[Listed
as Henry Charles BIRD on memorial] Corporal 238078, 4th Battalion
Gordon Highlanders. Enlisted London. Killed in action 25/07/1918
age 18. Commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, Soissons, Aisne,
France. This memorial commemorates about 4,000 British officers
and men who died during the Battles of the Aisne and the Marne in
1918 and who have no known grave. Born 1889 Barnstable, Devon, son
of Charles Ernest (a wine merchant's representative) and Ellen Maria
A (nee Baker) Bird.

School
Admissions Book:
“Bird, Charles Henry, born 10th April 1899, admitted September
17th 1908, son of Charles E. Bird, a Wine Merchant of 27 Hills View,
Barnstaple. Left Christmas 1908. Killed in Action.”

Obituary
on Page 218 of the ?? De Astonian Magazine.

“We
exceedingly regret to have to add to our already long roll of Honour
the name of H. C. Bird, London Scottish, who was killed on active
service in France on 25th July 1918.

He
joined up in 1916 but was not sent out to France until April 1918,
when he was attached to the Scots Greys.

Bird
was only just over 18 when he gave his life for his country, so
he must have offered his services to the nation at as early an age
as possible. We offer our deep felt sympathies to his relations
and friends.”

“Still
one more name has to be added to the list of those brave fellows
who have laid down their lives for us. The most recent of our old
school-fellows to make the supreme sacrifice is Corporal F. Gant,
who was born on May 13th, 1892, came to De Aston in May, 1906. He
left at Easter, 1908, and volunteered for service shortly after
war commenced. He joined the Machine Gun Section and was wounded
three times in action. On April 14th he was awarded the Military
Medal for bravery in the field, and he died fighting gallantly just
one month later, on May 14th, the day after his 26th birthday. Our
deepest sympathies are with his sorrowing parents.”

Page
189 De Astonian Magazine

“Ashby, Scunthorpe, July 29th

Dear Sir,

It is very nice of you to mention my dear boy in your school paper
and I thank you also for your kind letter. We have two nice letters
from his Company Major in which he tells us Frank would suffer no
pain as he was killed instantly by a bomb which fell short of its
object and struck Frank's position in the daytime while the whole
five were asleep and killed them all and they all are buried together
in the place where they fell near Paquit Wood. We seem to know very
little about him since he was here at the end of November, and he
told us very little; he did not appear to like recalling the horrors
he had seen.

Frank joined the King's Royal Rifles in February, 1916, and was
billeted at Banbury, and there he was chosen with one other as a
machinegunner, and sent up to Grantham on St. Patrick's day, and
in June was sent across to France with the 2nd section 123rd Machine
Gun Brigade, 41st Division, which went onto Armentieres and then
on to Fricourt. He was some time at Deville wood. He was wounded
in the arm and leg and rendered deaf at Fleurs, and was three months
in a Canadian hospital, afterwards joining the 90th Division. On
Christmas Eve, 1916, he went into the line, but had to be sent back
to the base, the cold being so intense he could not stand it.

After that he was some time at Havringcourt Wood, until the German
retirement. He was at the capture of Combles, and remained in that
district and Arras the greater part of 1917, during which year he
was hit in the shoulder and another time in the hand. He was granted
leave in November, and when he returned at the beginning of December
he joined B Company 4th Machine Gun Corps.

Since then he had seen a great deal of fighting in the neighbourhood
of Robecq. Poor boy, his was not a fighting nature, but he felt
it his duty to go, although he did not like leaving us to the strain
of all our business.

The future to us seems quite blank, although we are proud to know
he has done his duty so well. He has more than once been asked to
take a commission, but he said he would rather remain as he was.

His papers had gone through, and if he had lived only a few hours
longer would have been on his way to England. He was awarded the
Military Medal on April 14th, but had not mentioned that to us.
The Major told us this after his death.

I see you mention Frank Burkitt in your school paper. I have no
doubt he will know more about my Frank than I do, as they corresponded
regularly.

School
Admissions Book:
" Coulthurst, Frank. Born 10 Sept. 1895, admitted 23 April
1907, son of James Coulthurst, Farmer of West Halton, left Midsummer
1907?, killed July 1916."

De
Astonian Magazine Christmas 1916 – Page 99
“Frank Coulthurst, who was at De Aston from April 1907 until
Midsummer 1911, was, we regret to state, killed in France by the
explosion of a mine on September 6th of this year. He was in the
London Scottish Regiment. We sympathise greatly with his parents
and his brother, who was at school here with him. We are glad to
be able to publish a photograph of him in uniform. F. Coulthurst
was within a few days of his 21st birthday when he yielded his life
for his country.”

He
gained his ”wings” the first week in October after a
period of training at Hythe. Returning from the Western front in
November last he married Miss Sybil Hardy, daughter of Mr. And Mrs.
John Hardy, of Cleethorpes. The shocking tragedy of his death, which
occurred whilst acting as observer over the German lines, came as
a great surprise to the widow and members of the family, to whom
only a few days before the deceased had written stating that he
was to be engaged on home-service in a short time.

The
following letter has been received by Mrs. Croft from the Rev. P.H.
Wilson, chaplain to the squadron:

“By the time you receive this letter you will no doubt have
heard of your husband’s death. He and his pilot were Killed
flying just over the lines. Both must have been killed instantly.
I thought you would like to know that the funeral took place this
afternoon (Feb. 17th ) and I took the service.

Your husband is buried in a cemetery just outside a small town named____.
A cross with name, rank and date of death upon it will be placed
over the grave. The cross will be made in the squadron. I knew your
husband well and shall miss him very much as, I know, will all the
squadron.

My deepest sympathy is with you in your great loss. He has made
the great sacrifice and you must be proud of him.''

The officer commanding the ______Squadron writes as follows:-''It
is with deepest sympathy and heartfelt regret that I must write
to tell you that your husband was killed today(16th Feb.) whilst
on duty as observer to Sergeant Hardman, a pilot of the squadron.
Up to the present I have no details of the combat, but I gather
that an enemy machine gun succeeded in bringing your husband and
Sergeant Hardman down in flames this side of our lines. Both were
instantly killed. Your husband had been with the squadron for a
long time, and his loss is very great indeed. His very many friends
join me in heartfelt condolences.''

School Admissions Book:
“Croft George Wheeler, born 31 December 1895, admitted 20th
January 1909. Son of A. Croft, Fish Merchant of “Estaford”,
Mill Road, Cleethorpes. Left Easter 1912”

Page
163 of the De Astonian Magazine:
“The death of flight-Lieut George Wheeler Croft of the R.N.A.S.,
whose photograph we are able to publish through the courtesy of
the “Grimsby News,” has been confirmed by letters received
from the chaplain to the deceased’s squadron and the Commanding
Officer, and Mrs. Croft has also received a letter of sympathy from
His Majesty the King in the loss she has sustained. The deceased
officer, who formerly resided at Esladford, Mill-road, Cleethorpes,
was only 22 years of age on December 31st last, and was the son
of Mr. And Mrs. Croft of Cleethorpes.

He received his education at Clee Grammar School and De Aston Grammar
School, Market Rasen, and after leaving school he went into the
service of the Coal, Salt and Tanning Company, and afterwards was
employed by the Great Central Railways Company in the Dock Officers.

He joined the “Chums” battalion on September 17th 1914,
as a private, and received his commission on September 11th, 1915-a
year later. He went to France in June 1916, and immediately took
his place in the trenches, his first big engagement being the Battle
of the Somme. On July 3rd he was in charge of an ammunition party,
whose duty it was to keep the troops supplied with ammunition. Three
days later he was in the fighting for the possession of Mametz Wood
and the shelter, which latter position he was successful in holding.

Later on the same year he was invalided home suffering from shell
shock and invertigo? and was put under hospital treatment. On recovering
he was put on light duty at Weelsby, and after being in Brockton
Camp he departed for the Western front on Good Friday, 1917. He
remained with the Lincolns until August, 1917, when at his own request
he transferred to the Air Service, to which he had always been attracted.

Second
Lieutenant, 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who was killed
in action on Thursday, 4 October 1917. Age 20. Son of Walter and
Emily Gibson, of 3, Sibthorp St., Lincoln. No known grave. Commemorated
on Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel
35 to 37 and 162 to 162A

School
Admissions Book:
“Gibson Walter R., born 11 December 1896. Admitted 19th September
1911, son of W. Gibson Esq., Clerk, of 17 Foster Street, Lincoln.
Left July 1913. Killed October 1917, 2nd Lieut.”

Obit and picture page 145

“The many friends of Second-Lieut Walter Reginald Gibson,
son of Mr. Walter Gibson, Clerk in the Lindsey County Council office
at Lincoln will learn will deep regret that he is officially reported
by the war office as missing from October 4th and that in a letter
to his parents Lieut. Draper states " his death has cast a
gloom over this mess."

Second Lieut. Gibson who would have been 21 in December was a boy
member of the Lincoln Cathedral choir which he entered in 1907.
He was there nearly 5 years during which time he passed the Cambridge
senior examination with honours. He thus obtained the Matriculation
certificate of the London university and then became a student teacher
of the Lincoln School and practiced at St. Peters-at-Gowts School.

In May 1915 Gibson joined up choosing the county Regiment and arriving
in France on his 19th birthday. He came back to England in January
last to prepare to take a commission and for 4 months was in the
Cadet Corps at the Balliol college Oxford.

Gazetted in June, he was sent to Weelsby camp for 3 weeks and was
sent out to France as second LT. on August 19th attached to Battalion
of Lincolns. As stated above he is officially reported missing on
the sadder and more definite news is communicated in an un-official
letter from a brother officer. A letter from another officer of
the Regiment states that second Lt. Gibson was killed in a attack
on a German position in the early morning of October 4th.”

At
Christmas 1916 he was seen by another De Astonian, and mentioned
in a letter back to the school

Letter page 103/104 of the De Astonian Magazine. Christmas 1916

“7th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment, B.E.F

Dear Sir, ….. Since I’ve been out I’ve had the
pleasure of meeting both Mr. Upex and W.R.Gibson. I met the former
at the base. We happened to be standing at the same street corner
waiting for a tram when we saw each other and the joy was mutual.
We travelled up the line together, and had a long talk about old
times. It appears that he had only recently visited the school and
so was able to give me the latest news. It was a week or two before
I saw him again, and then he told me he had come across Gibson in
his Battalion. Afterwards I had the pleasure of meeting him. He
has been out 10 months and is still going strong.

School
Admissions book:
“Glew, Aubrey, admitted aged 11 on April 30th. 1903 son of
Walter Glew, of South Kelsey Hall, Flight Lieut. Glew, died of wounds
received on Sept 8th 1916.”

Obit
page 98 De Astonian Magazine:
“Aubrey Glew, who entered De Aston in April, 1903, and left
at Easter, 1905, was the son of Mrs. Glew of Wittering and the late
Mr. W. T. Glew of South Kelsey. He obtained his commission in the
Flying Corps in March, and gained his "wings" six weeks
later. Though he has been abroad only six weeks he had been engaged
in many hazardous expeditions, and fought many battles with enemy
pilots, accounting for no less than four of them. Earlier in the
war Lieut. Glew, then a member of the Lincolnshire Yeomanry, had
seen active service as a despatch rider. He died of wounds received
on September 8th this year, the sad news being received by his mother
at the moment when she was reading a letter from her son expressing
his anticipation of being home on leave in a few days. He was engaged
to be married to Miss Davis of "The Chestnuts", Market
Rasen, with whom and with his mother we feel the deepest sympathy.”

HALLAM

Robert
Samuel

Second
Lieutenant 15th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire &
Derbyshire Regimentt) who was killed in action on Thursday, 20 July
1916. Age 17. Son of Robert and Emma Hallam, of Chestnut Grove,
Trent, Notts. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial,
Somme, France . Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A

School
Admissions Book:
“Hallam, Robert S. Born 3 September 1898, admitted 16th September
1909, son of R.Hallam, Solicitor of Chestnut Grove, Radcliffe on
Trent. Left Easter 1912. Killed July 1916.”

Page
98 Christmas 1916 De Astonian Magazine:
“Robert Samuel Hallam, the son of a well-known Nottingham
solicitor, entered De Aston in September, 1909, and remained her
until Easter 1912. He possessed undoubted talents, and was useful
on both cricket and football fields, and was much missed when he
accompanied Mr. Elliott to Ashby-de-la-Zouch. There he distinguished
himself both as a scholar and as an athlete. He was about to enter
the legal profession when war broke out, and he promptly volunteered
his services. As he was only 16 years of age the recruiting authorities
would not accept him, so he joined the Nottingham University O.T.C.,
and after a year’s training was granted a commission in the
special reserve, Sherwood Foresters, shortly after his 17th birthday
in September 1915. He proceeded to the front with a draft in the
early summer 1916 and was killed in action in July 1916.”

HODGSON

[John]
Charles

Captain,
10th Battalion, Border Regiment, who was killed in action on Monday
28th June 1915, aged 33. Son of Isaac and Emily Catherine Hodgson,
of Newlands House, Keswick, Cumberland. No known grave. Commemorated
on Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 119 to 125 or 222 and 223

Information
taken and edited from De Aston School Staff Register 1901-1963:
John Charles HODGSON,
Born 9 November 1882. Educated at Keswick School 1894-1898, then
Chester Training College 1902-1904 (Teacher Training – Govt
Certificate 1st Class 1905). Employed by London County Council ,
1904-1906 - Latimer and Popham Rd (Schools?). Educated at Le Paragon,
Joinville le Pont 1907 April to October. Employed at De Aston from
February 1908 as Teacher of Senior and Junior French. General elementary
subjects and some English Literature. Salary £75 a year plus
Board and Lodging worth c. £40 a year. Rise in salary to £80
from January 1909. Left De Aston on 27 July 1909 and was then teaching
Modern Languages at the County School, Penzance, Cornwall.

Page
69 De Astonian Magazine
"HODGSON - Killed in action at the Dardanelles on June 28th,
1915, Captain John Charles Hodgson, 10th Batt. Border Regiment.
Captain Hodgson had been an assistant master at Penzance County
School, from 1910 to 1914. He was on the staff at De Aston from
January 1907 till he went to Penzance. He was always most popular
with every one who had the privilege of knowing him. He was also
a frequent contributor to this magazine. He enlisted at the beginning
of the war and soon obtained a commission, being promoted captain
within 4 months."

School
Admission Book:
“Pupil 283, Holdershaw H, admitted 18 September 1888, son
of C. Holdershaw of Lynwode House, left Midsummer 1894. Died in
France 1917.”

Page
117 De Astonian Magazine
“Much sympathy is felt for the parent and relatives of Henry
Holdershaw, who died on Thursday, 22nd Feb., in the Canadian General
Hospital at Boulogne. Private Holdershaw was the elder son of Mister
and Mrs Cook Holdershaw of Linwood house Market Rasen. He was at
De Aston from 1888 to 1894, and subsequently occupied a farm in
the immediate vicinity. He was a keen sportsman, being well known
in the Cricket and hunting fields. He enlisted in the Lincolns last
June, and some 5 months ago was drafted to France. As the result
of the trying conditions there he developed pneumonia and passed
away, and stated above, at the age of 40 years.”

LUCAS

Henry
Raymond

Corporal
94771, “B” Battery, 76th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
who was killed in action on Thursday 30 September 1915. Born Sturton-By-Stow,
Lincoln, enlisted Marylenone, London N.W. Buried in Bedford House
Cemetery, Zillebeke, Ieper, West Flanders, Enclosure No 2 Plot VI
Row A Grave 10

School
Admissions Book:
“Lucas Henry Raymond, born 4th March 1893, admitted September
21st 1905, son of G. Lucas a Grocer of Sturton by Stow. Left Midsummer
1908. Killed in Action October 1915.”

De
Astonian Magazine Pg 51
We are able to print the following facts of the career of
H.R Lucas (whose photo we here reproduce). He was at De Aston from
1905 to 1908, during which time he kept goal for the football team
in most matches. On leaving school, he entered the drapery trade
in Lincoln, afterwards going to Sheffield and then to London. At
the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery B/46
Battery. He was made a bombardier in a month , and became a corporal
six months later. He was selected out of the whole battery to undergo
a special course in Gunnery instruction at Shoeburyness, and he
obtained a certificate of efficiency. He accompanied his battery
to the front in May 1915 and was in action nearly all the time up
to his death in on Sept.30th.

The
following letter we are privileged to print through the courtesy
of his father , Mr George Lucas:-

“Tuesday
26th October 1915
Re Corporal Lucas. H R , deceased.

Dear Mr Lucas, - Yours of the 21st inst. to hand , I regret not
having written you before this, but my time has been fully occupied,
and as Corporal Barker kindly said he would break the sad news to
you, I consented, promising to write later.

I will now give you all the particulars I am able to regarding the
sad affair.

It occurred on the afternoon of the 30th ult., about 4-30 pm, the
battery had just received the order “stand easy”, after
a particularly heavy bombardment, and he was just emerging from
the gun pit when a shell came, without any warning whatever, and
burst, killing your son instantly. I need hardly say how sorry we
all were - he was a particular friend of mine - he was so quiet
and unassuming and liked in consequence by both officers and men.
The following morning I collected all his private property-which
I will forward to you to-morrow ( Wednesday ) -although we are supposed
to send same in the first place to the base , but as same is rather
a risky proceeding, I will send direct to you.

He was buried in the grounds of the ecole (school) in a place chosen
by myself. The School is situated just outside the ramparts of Ypres.
He was sewn in a blanket ( the soldiers’ coffin ) and reverently
buried by the Army Chaplains about 6.30pm. When I tell you that
hundreds of men are buried by their comrades just as they fall –
no blanket or chaplain - you will see that we did all that was possible
for your son. A few days later the grave was trimmed and a cross
erected at the head of the same. A sketch is enclosed.

If at any time I go near his grave, I will give attention to it
and also if there is anything further I can do for you, shall be
only too pleased to do it.

Hoping that may time in some way heal your great sorrow –
you know at any rate that he died doing his duty to King and Country.
He was never a slacker - like hundreds in the Old Country.

With kind regards,
Harold G. Burton.”

Page
54 Obituary in De Astonian Magazine
“Lucas, Henry Raymond.- born 4th March, 1893, killed in action
30th September 1915. De Aston September 1905 to July 1908.

MARRIS,
MC

Horace
Frost

Lieutenant,
76th Field Company, Royal Engineers, who died on Wednesday, 12 December
1917. Age 28, of wounds received on 2 December. Son of the Rev.
Charles Colquhoun Marris and Edith Marris, of "Hazeldene,"
Dene Rd., Guildford. Awarded the Military Cross (M.C.).Buried in
Tincourt New Britsih Cemetery, Somme, France. Plot IV. Row B. Grave
26.

Page 164 The De Astonian Magazine“Among
those who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country there
is none whose loss we more deplore than Lieut H F Marris, who died
of wounds in Flanders on December 12th.

The deceased officer, who was the son of the Rev.CC Marris, formerly
vicar of Habrough and Immingham, and himself an old De Astonian
1865-1869, was at school at De Aston from 1898 till 1903 , when
he left to go to Durham School. Leaving the latter Midsummer, 1906,
he went into the shops at Immingham Dock, then just beginning construction,
and served his time as a fitter to gain a knowledge of mechanical
engineering.

He was in charge of the cranes there when war broke out in 1914,
and joined the R.E's (Regulars) as Sapper. He trained at the Curragh
with the 63rd Field Company and left for Gallipoli July , 1913 (SIC),
then being Sergeant. His first taste of war was in the Sulva bay
landing, October 1st, 1915. He was invalided home from there and
landed in England December 2nd, 1915.

On being discharged from hospital he was granted a commission in
the R.E's, and after training was sent to the 75th Field Company
attached to the Guards' Division shortly before the Battle of the
Somme. He won the M.C in February, 1917, his name appearing in the
Birthday Honours, June 5th. His promotion to Leiut. was announced
in the Times, May 21st, 1917. He was badly wounded by an odd shell
on December 2nd, and died December 12th. His fellow officers spoke
of him as a ''Very brave man and of a very kind disposition.'' His
C.O. said he was always ready to take the dangerous work without
hesitation.

Our heartfelt sympathies are with those relations and friends whom
he has left to mourn his loss.”

MARTIN

Walter

Gunner
1388, 1st North Midland Brigade, Royal Field Artillery who was killed
in action onWednesday, 13 October 1915. Age 22. Born and enlisted
Boston. Son of Frank and Violet Martin, of Devon Villa, Sleaford
Rd., Boston. No known grave. Commemorated on Loos Memorial, Pas
de Calais, France. Panel 3.

Page
54 of De Astonian Magazine:
“Martin, Walter - born 1893 killed in action October 13th
1915. De Astonian January 1901 to December 1907.”

Page
50 of De Astonian Magazine:
“Walter Martin enlisted soon after the outbreak of the war,
having previously been working at Drainage engineering under Messrs.
Johnson and Robins of Boston. He was a prominent member of the Boston
Football Club and much repspected in the town and district. His
brother, now Second-Lieut. George Martin, has been specially commended
for almost reckless bravery at the front. George is now at Grantham,
and it is sad to relate that Walter’s soldierly qualities
had been duly recognised, and that it was expected that he would
be commissioned at any time and would soon be home.

The
following letter speaks for itself, and is one of the scores which
have been received by Mr and Mrs. Martin in their sad bereavement.:

“Dear
Sir, I am very sorry to have to inform you of the death of your
son, Gunner Walter Martin, who was killed in action on the 13th
inst. At 2.40pm. He had just been told to send a message through
by signal from the Battery to another point, and had taken up his
stand at the same moment as a 5.9 inch shell dropped on the gun-pit
about six yards from him. He, and two other telephonists, as well
as two gunners in the gun-pit, were killed instantaneously, and
we have buried them just where it occurred.

He was of sterling quality and is greatly missed by both his officers
and his comrades, and would seem to be almost a double loss in that
his name had been sent forward for a Commission in the Territorials.

Please accept through me the sympathy of the officers and men of
the Battery. And believe me, yours very sincerely,

School
Admissions Book:
“Measures Arthur, admitted aged 8, 18th September 1902, son
of Mrs. Measures of Louth, left Midsummer 1908. Killed in Action.”

Obit page 196 De Astonian Magazine:
“As we go to press we are given the sad news that Lieut. Arthur
Measures, of the Royal Air Force, has been killed while flying in
England. Though the sad event did not take place over the enemy
lines this brave officer has none the less given his life for his
country, and has left his name to be added to the honourable list
of those old De Astonians who have fallen in this great war. We
wish to express our sympathies with his relatives and friends.”

MEASURES

Edward

Brother
of A Measures above.

School
Admissions Book:
“Measures E, born 21 Nov 1887, admitted 19th January 1904,
son of Mrs. Measures of Louth, left June 1904. Dead.”

De Astonian Magazine Christmas 1918.
“The painful news has just reached us that Edward Measures,
who was Veterinary Surgeon to H.M. the King at Sandringham, has
died of typhoid fever after a very short illness. Coming so soon
after the death of his younger brother Arthur, the decease of this
Old De Astonian seems doubly sad.”

NAYLOR,
MC

Cyril
Doughty

Second
Lieutenant, 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who was killed
in action on Sunday, 25 August 1918. Age 20. Son of Frank Naylor,
J.P., of Middle Rasen, Market Rasen, Lincs. Awarded the Military
Cross (M.C.). Buried in Martinpuich British Cemetery, Pas de Calais,
France. Plot/Row/Section A. Grave 16.

EDITOR’S
NOTE: There may be some confusion with this person. The
H T Nettleship on the Memorial and on the War Graves site may or
may not be the Thomas W Nettleship born about 1891 and listed in
the School Admissions Book below: They apparently have the same
father – but T W was born about 1891 and H T about 1897! There
is a Thomas Nettleship, Second Lieutenant, 1st/5th Battalion, Northumberland
Fusiliers. Killed in action 22 March 1918. Aged 32. Son of Elizabeth
A. Nettleship, of 5, Howick St., Alnwick, Northumberland, and the
late Charles Nettleship. No known grave. Commemorated on Pozieres
Memorial, Somme, France. Panel 16 to 18.

Fourth
Engineer Officer, S.S. "Medina"
(Greenock), Mercantile Marine who died on Saturday, 28 April
1917. Age 28. Son of the late John and Mary Palmer. Born in India.
No known grave. Commemorated on Tower Hill Memorial, London, United
Kingdom.

This diary kept by Gerald P Kelly, De Astonian 1903/4, and passed
to De Aston by his daughter, Mrs P Faupel of Milton Keynes.
“On April 8th 1917 we got to Suez, but no one landed so we
only remained a couple of hours. It was just in the Canal (Suez)
that I met “Pedlar” Palmer (who was with me at the de
Aston), he had seen my baggage coming aboard at Colombo ( being
a busy man, 4th Engineer is his rating), had not found time to look
me up. However, we made up for lost time and many a pleasant hour
we spent talking over old times…

Our course from Gibraltar took us right out into the Atlantic. We
missed the Bay of Biscay altogether. I had a long yarn with Palmer,
how little did either of us guess it would be the last. On the 27th
morning we arranged to have a look at the engine room with our friends
at 4.30 – we did so and spent a most instructive couple of
hours down below: it’s a wonderful spot the engine room of
a big liner and I wish I were able to give a good and full description
of everything. Well, our journey was drawing to an end and a good
deal quicker than anyone had anticipated.“We got to Plymouth
at midday of the 27th... At Three we left Plymouth and all went
smoothly until we came close to start point – then our journey
came to an abrupt end. From the time we left Gibraltar most of us
had got very careless about life belts despite the drills and lectures,
the advice given at various times by the chief and 2nd Officers
– as a result when at 6pm on April 28th we were struck astern
by a torpedo not many had life belts. I will not say that there
was any panic but in a wonderfully short time the smoking room was
empty ! We thought the ship would go down at once, - indeed the
decks and cabins were full of water, caused as it happened by the
force of water after the explosion. I did not go to my cabin as
I had on a life saving waistcoat and did not know if I could find
anything – lights having gone out at once as the torpedo struck
the engine room.

I went straight to the Hurricane deck as per orders ands waited
a bit – no signs of a boat or anyone so I went to the boat
deck and found most of the starboard boats smashed up – mine
included – I had then to look for another and am glad we were
such a small party for if not I would have had no alternative but
to jump overboard and wait to be picked up: as it happened there
were heaps of boats and I soon found room and got overboard down
a rope ladder to safety. We pulled away from the “Medina”
and when we had been some two hours in boats we were picked up by
a trawler. We spent about half an hour aboard and saw the end of
a good ship on which we had passed so many pleasant hours.

To watch the gradual disappearance of the sinking “Medina”
was one of the saddest experiences I have undergone. One felt one
had lost ones dearest relative and I am sure none of us desire to
go through it again. The trawler had found it could not move –
as what wind there was was being against us. So we again transhipped
but luckily a tug took us aboard this time and without further mishaps
we eventually landed at Dartmouth. Though it was after ten and quite
dark, all the inhabitants were out to welcome us and we walked (
or tried to ) through rows of sympathetic watchers to our various
hotels. Later in the evening when the roll had been called we found
that Palmer was missing. He must have been struck, I fancy, for
he was on watch in the engine room and was known to have been astern
just before the explosion: well he died at his post doing his duty
as well as any of our brave men on service though he continually
complained to me that he ought to have joined up. He with 5 or 6
native engine room hands were our only casualties, plus a man who
lost a leg. This I think speaks volumes for the way the officers
and crew looked after their safety.”

Page
135 De Astonian Magazine
“DEATH
It was the utmost regret that we have had to announce the death
of W.T Palmer, who lost his life in the English channel on April
28th last. Palmer who was at De Aston from January 1904 to Easter
1905 when he was a keen athletic and a favourite with all, was acting
as 4th engineer on board the R.M.S." Medina" when she
was torpedoed outside Plymouth by a German submarine. The "Medina
" was on her voyage homeward from India, and having landed
some passengers and mails at Plymouth was proceeding to London with
the remainder of her passengers in order to discharge her cargo.
Palmer had only just got on duty at 6pm., and must have been in
almost the exact spot where the explosion took place.In expressing
our deep sympathy with his relations and numerous friends we cannot
refrain from remarking our inability to understand the action of
the authorities in sending on vessels from Plymouth through the
dangers of the English channel to London and in this manner wasting
the lives of England's brave sons, to say nothing of the valuable
cargoes thus destroyed. G.P.Kelly who was returning by the same
boat from Ceylon for a well deserved holiday, was fortunate in escaping
with his life; he lost all his baggage which included a large number
of objects of interest and value which he was bringing home from
the East.”

PAULSON

John
Sydney

Second
Lieutenant, 2nd Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers who was killed in action
on Thursday, 17 September 1914. Age 25. Son of Mr. H. J. and Mrs.
C. Paulson, of 49, Tawney St., Boston, Lincs. Born at Kirton, Boston.
Buried in Ste. Marguerite Churchyard, Aisne, France.

School
Admissions Book:
“Paulson John S, born 31 October 1889, admitted 21 April 1904,
son of H.J. Paulson, Grocer &c. of Kirton in Boston. Left Midsummer
1907. Killed in Action during European War 1914.”

Obituary
of Christmas Term 1914.
“It is with the profoundest regret that we record the death
of Second Lieutenant J.S. Paulson, who lost his life in the battle
of the Aisne.
John S. Paulson was born 31st October 1889. He entered De Aston
on 21st April 1904, and left at Midsummer, 1907. He passed the London
Matriculation Examination in June 1907, and carried off the De Aston
School leaving Scholarship, which he held. for three years at the
University of London. There he obtained his Bachelor of Science
Degree, taking a third class in Chemistry. He served four years
with the London University Officers’ Training Corps, rising
to the rank of Cadet Sergeant. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant
(Special Reserve) in August, 1911.

On leaving the University, Paulson took up at Easter, 1912, a position
as Assistant Master at Orme Boys’ School, Newcastle-under-Lyne,
where he remained until Midsummer, 1914. His departure was much
regretted, but he had accepted the offer of another post in Northwich
Grammar School.

He left, however, for the front on the 22nd August, and on the 23rd
marched to the fighting area to enter into action immediately, taking
part in two engagements on that day. He passed safely through the
Battle of Mons and of the Marne. During the Battle of the Aisne
his Brigade was told off to take the village of Bucy-le-Long, then
in the possession of the Germans. They crossed the river on a single
plank under heavy shrapnel fire. It was during this crossing that
Lieutenant Paulson was hit. The following is the report sent by
the Chaplain.

“Lieutenant Paulson was wounded by shrapnel all down one side
of his body and died three hours later. Three attempts were made
by men of his Regiment to rescue him when hit. Two men were killed
and two wounded in these attempts. The body of Lieut. Paulson lies
in the Churchyard of St. Marguerite, west of Bucy-le-long, immediately
inside the gate of the cemetery, on the right side.”

Lieut. Paulson died on 13th September 1914. In concluding, we wish
to express our deep sympathy with his family in their deep loss.
England demands sacrifices and they, as well as his old schoolfellows
who mourn his death, may find comfort in the thought that though
he gave his life, he gave it for his country, and that his sacrifice
is not in vain..”

School
Magazine of Christmas Term 1914.

PIPPET

Cyril
V

Corporal,
220264, 11th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regimentwho was killed in
action on Wednesday, 27 March 1918. Born Market Weighton, enlisted
Hull. No known grave. Brother of John Gilbert Pippet (below). Commemorated
on Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 4 and 5

Obituary
page 177 De Astonian Magazine – Midsummer 1918
“It is with greatest regret that we record the death of Sergeant
C. V. Pippett in action in France on 27th March this year. Pippett,
who came to De Aston in 1898 aged eight, left us in 1906 to enter
business in Hull. He joined the East Yorkshire Yeomanry soon after
the outbreak of war and later became Sergeant and Instructor on
machine guns. He spent several months in the latter half of 1917
on the Yorkshire coast in charge of a machine gun, and went out
to France in December. In the following March he took part in resisting
the first great onslaught of the enemy and was killed by a machine
gun bullet. Deceased was in his 28th year.”

School
Admission Book:
“Pippet, Gilbert, admitted aged 8 on 30th April 1903, son
of Mrs. Pippett of Hambledon Villa, Market Rasen. Left July 1911.
Military Medal 1916, 2nd Lieutenant 1917”

De Astonain Magazine Christmas 1916 page 102:
“Corporal John Gilbert Pippet, East Yorkshire Regiment. For
bravery and devotion to duty in destroying wire defences in an important
raid on the enemy trenches. He was wounded in the attack.”

De
Astonian Magazine Obituary of Christmas 1917
“Second-Lieut. H. Raymond Rawlinson, whose death we much regret
to report, entered De Aston in January 1906, remaining at School
five years, when he left to take up a position in a bank.

Lieut Rawlinson was on the staff at Lloyd’s Bank in Birmingham
when war broke out, and on September 21st, 1914, he joined the 7th
Worcesters. He underwent training at Kidderminster, Maldon and Brentwood.
In October, 1915, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and went
to Bisley for a machine-gun course.

From there he went to Sidworth in the M.G.C. attached to the 7th
Worcesters, and was drafted to France in March, 1916, returning
to England the following November to take up a commission, He underwent
the necessary training at Bisley and on April 26th this year was
gazetted and sent to Clipstone, where lie remained until August
and when he returned to active service and was killed in action
on. 26th September.

From Lieut. Rawlinson’s orderly, Mrs. Rawlinson received the
following letter, dated 27th September “Dear Mrs. Rawlinson
- Ere this arrives you will no doubt have received news of your
dear son’s death. Being his servant I was much in contact
with him. I feel it my duty to let you know he will be greatly missed
by all those that knew him. He died a soldier’s death right
in the battle front. It must be some satisfaction to you to know
that he died doing his duty nobly, and that death was almost instantaneous.
If it is not asking too much, I would like a small photograph of
him.”

Private
1167, South Nottinghamshire Hussarswho died on Thursday, 5th October
1916. Age 19. Enlisted and resident Nottingham. Son of Sarah Taylor,
of Winthorpe Bungalow, Skegness, Lincs., and the late J. J. Taylor.
Native of Nottingham. Buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military
Cemetery, Greece. Grave 525

School
Admissions Book:
“Taylor, George Albert. Born 16th July 1897, entered the school
16th June 1907, son of Mrs. Sarah Taylor of Sandiacre, Nottinghamshire.
Left Christmas 1910.”

De
Astonian Magazine Page 99“George
Albert Taylor (Bert) died of dysentery in the 1st Canadian Stationary
Hospital ant Salonica, on October 16th 1916. At the age of seventeen
he joined the South Notts. Hussars at the outbreak of te war. He
went with his Regiment to Egypt in May last year, and some months
later to Salonica. No further information is to hand with regard
to his military career, but his death appears to have been very
sudden, as a letter was received from him after the sad news had
reached his home, saying that he was in good health. We wish to
express our sympathy with his relations and friends.

G.A. Taylor was at De Aston from June 1907 until December 1910.
He was only 19 when he died. Two of his brothers, Horace and Charles,
also old De Astonian, are at present in the Army.”

School
Admissions Book:
“Tillett, John Edward, born 4th December 1895, admitted September
21st 1905, son of A.J.Tillett, Brewery Manager of Market Rasen.
Left Easter 1912. Killed in Action.”

Page
196 De Astonian Magazine
“Another gallant De Astonian has made the supreme sacrifice,
Lieut John Edward Tillet, of the Lincolnshire Regiment (special
reserve), the only son of Mr Arthur J. and Mrs Tillett,with whom
much sympathy is felt in their great loss.

Lieut. Tillett was, in truth, a soldier, and was beloved by those
who had the good fortune to serve under him. The true qualities
of an officer are very speedily seen by the men serving under him,
and appreciated accordingly, with the result that the men give of
their best and try to to emulate their officer in those attributes
which make for military efficiency. Such an officer was Lieut. J.E.Tillett,
who was killed in action on 8th October last, and whose death is
deplored by a large circle of friends.

Lieut.
Tillett was educated at De Aston Grammar School, and in 1912 was
articled to Mr. A.A. Padley, solicitor. On the outbreak of the war
he joined a voluntary corps of young men who commenced their training
at the Old Victoria Foundry, all the members of which joined H.M.
Forces. The deceased was attached for training to a Territorial
Regiment on his 19th birthday, 1914, and was eventually gazetted
in April 1915 to the Lincolnshire Regiment (Special Reserve of Officers)
as 2nd Lieutenant.

In the same year he was attached to one of the Line Battalions of
the Regiment in which he served 1915-1917 and this year on various
parts of the Western Front. In the early part of 1916 he was machine
gun officer to his Battalion, and was promoted Lieutenant in January
1917.

Lieut. Tillett was invalided home after the rigors of the 1916-17
winter, and during his period of light duty commanded a Company
of a Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, after which he returned
to France to rejoin his old Battalion.

He was wounded near Rheims on the 29th May last, on the same morning
that his old schoolfellow, Lieut. J. Gilbert Pippett, M.M., who
was with him at the time, was killed. After a period of convalescence
Lieut. Tillett rejoined his Regiment again and unfortunately met
his death as stated previously.”

School
Admissions Book:
“Topliss, Basil Hubert, born 3 May 1892, admitted 27 June
1906, son of John George Topliss, Grocer of Queen Street, Market
Rasen. Left Midsummer 1909. Killed in Action.”

Page
99 De Astonian Magazine:
Basil Hubert Topliss was killed in an attack on a German Trench
on 21st November, 1916. He joined the forces in November of last
year, being attached to the 4th Lincolnshire Regiment. He underwent
training at Grantham and Nottingham, and was subsequently at Saltfleetby.

He was transferred to the Royal Sussex Regiment at the beginning
of September this year, and was included in a draft for the front
almost immediately. We wish to express our great sympathy with his
relations and friends.”

Captain
acting Lieutenant Colonel Commanding, 4th Battalion attached from
6th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps who was killed in action
on Thursday, 7 November 1918. Age 32. Son of the Rev. A. W. and
Mrs. L. K. Tryon, of Middle Rasen, Market Rasen, Lincs. Awarded
the Military Cross (M.C.). Buried in In South-East part of St. Remy-Chausee
Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

School
Admissions Book:
“Tryon, George Arthur. Admitted aged 11 on 23rd September
1897, son of Rev. A.W.Tryon, of Middle Rasen Vicarage. Left Christmas
190?. Killed in Action.”

De Astonian Magazine. Christmas 1918. Page 195
Our hearts go out to Mrs. Tryon, widow of the late Rev. A.W.Tryon,
Vicar of Middle Rasen, in the great and incomparable loss she has
sustained in the death of her gallant son, Major George Arthur Tryon,
M.C., of the King’s Royal Rifles, who was killed in action
in France on the 7th of November, in his 33rd year. Mrs. Tryon,
like many Mothers in this country, had, upon the cessation of hostilities,
been looking forward to her son’s speedy return when she received
the sad news, and her sorrow at the loss of her only surviving son
is shared by a wide circle of friends. Major Tryon was one of the
most un-assuming of men, but he possessed all the soldierly attributes
which make the British officer second to none in the whole world.
He was a grandson of General Tryon of the 43rd Regiment, and of
the Rev. Thomas Wimberley Mossman, Rector of West Torrington.

Major Tryon began his education at De Aston School, and afterwards
went to Uppingham, from which School he gained a Scholarship at
Pembroke College, Cambridge, coming out 20th Wrangler on taking
his degree in 1908. Shortly after he was given the responsible post
of House Master at Oundle School by Mr. F. W. Sanderson, the Head
Master. Major Tryon was in the O.T.C at Uppingham and Cambridge,
rising to the rank of Captain. On the declaration of war he at once
volunteered for service and was given a commission, with rank of
Captain in the 6th Battalion, K.R.R.C. He was on home service for
a short time at Sheerness, going on active service to France in
October 1914. He was wounded on January 1st 1915. After recovering
he saw service in France again for a short time, proceeding from
there to Salonica, where he remained nearly three years. During
that period he received the Military Cross and was for a time in
command of his Battalion. In July last he returned to France and
there was promoted to the rank of Major. The following letter, received
from his Commanding Officer, shows how much he was respected and
admired by those with whom he was in any way connected in his military
career.

Page
216 of the De Astonian Magazine
“The following is from the pen of the late major G A Tryon
(whose death we recently recorded) on seeing in the Times the death
of one of his boys.

A
SCHOOLMASTERS THOUGHTS

Another gone! The well known name,
And then , the all to brief career,
His home, his school, athletic fame
''In action'‘ in his nineteenth year.

Salt of the earth were such as he,
Whose like no other age has bred,
What futures we had looked to see!
But ''Killed in action'', they are dead.

Was it in vain we wrought and they,
Character strong and true to build,
Fit their part in the world to play
Through life's long years, had god so willed?

'Twas not in vain : they've played their part,
Example set of highest worth;
Their country took from them new heart,
It saw the sons of God on earth.

Their lives were long enough to leave
A trail of blessing in their wake,
And so we have no right to grieve
Nor count them lost -'tis but a break.

For humbly we may dare to think
Each death means one friend the more,
Who when 'tis ours to cross the brink,
Will greet us on the further shore.
Salonica , 1916

Captain
G.A. Tryon Page 164-165 De Astonian Magazine:
“Captain Tryon was a house master at Oundle school when war
broke out.He was at that time captain in the school O.T.C., and
he immediately volunteered for service and was granted a commission
in the K.R.R.C.He was soon sent to France;had he gone there 24 hours
earlier he would have qualified for the much coveted "Mons
Star", He was wounded at La Bassee on New Years Day, 1915 and
invalided home.After his recovery he saw service again in France
for a few months, then his battalion was ordered to Salonica,where
he still is. While out there he was mentioned in dispatches and
subsequently awarded the Military Cross. Unfortunately further particulars
as to the acts of gallantry which earned him this distinction are
lacking. In his letters home Capt. Tryon gives various interesting
facts referring to life in Macedonia, as for instance that he and
his men were at one time trying to make a decent road of the one
travelled by St.Paul in his last missionary journey;he remarks that
had the old saint passed by he would probably have been taken for
a spy. In a description of a Greek monastery he mentions that in
all the beautiful frescoes on the walls the figures had had the
eyes scratched out by the Turks in one of their wars.

The
following lines, which were written by Captain Tryon while on active
service, will, we feel sure, appeal to all our readers.

A SCHOOL HYMN IN WAR TIME
O Father, hear us when we pray,
For those,our brothers, who have knelt,
Where we now kneel; by them to-day,
Be thy uplifting presence felt,

In dangers whatsoe'er they stand,
Where wounds and death are ever near,
Give each,at sea, in air,on land,
A heart that knows no thought of fear.

When issues full of fate depend,
On swift decision in the fight,
Thy spirit for their guidance send,
In all things may they judge aright.

And when from stress of battle free,
They find temptations hard to face,
O grant that they may look to thee,
For strength and all-sufficient grace.

And grant that the thoughts of this our home,
Enshrined in our hearts and theirs,
To high ideals inspiring come
In gracious answer to our prayers.

Salonica, 1917 G.A.T

Letter
from Commanding Officer

“Dear
Mrs Tryon, I cannot explain to you in a letter how deeply grieved
I am to inform you that your son was killed by a bullet on the day
before yesterday, during the attack towards Mauberg, near a place
called St. Aubin. Death was absolutely instantaneous. We are burying
him tomorrow morning at St. Remy Chaussee, and I shall attend the
funeral. They brought his body here as we were relieved yesterday.

The
whole of his battalion, officers and men, deeply feel their loss
in his death, as he was most popular and trusted by everyone. At
the time of his death he was leading his battalion, fearlessly and
well – in fact they have acquitted themselves admirably, and
earned great renown. He was in command at the time. He was an absolutely
white man, in the best sense of the word, straight and true as steel,
and I do hope the manner of his death, the pride and confidence
everyone had in him, and the fact that he never once flinched in
doing his duty, will give a very real consolation and comfort.

With
kindest regards and very deep sympathy, not only from myself, but
the whole of my staff.”

School
Admissions Book:
“Waller, Richard Maiden. Born 10 March 1892, admitted 19th
January 1905, son of Mrs. Waller of Silver Street, Lincoln, left
Midsummer 1907.”

Obituary on page 50 of De Astonian Magazine:
“R.M.Waller enlisted in the first Battalion, 4th Lincolnshire
Regiment at the outbreak of the war. He was trained at Luton and
Bishop’s Strortford, and left with his Regiment for France
at the end of February. There, to judge from his letters home, he
seems to have have taken every thing in true British fashion; he
made the best of things and seems to have derived pleasure from
his work.

On October 13th the Lincolns formed part of an attacking party,
their objective being the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Waller was wounded
in this attack on the right arm and in the chest; he received treatment
on the battlefield and was then sent to the Lahore Hospital at Calais.
There the bullet was extracted and for nearly a fortnight he appeared
to be making good progress, in fact he was shortly expecting to
be sent home. Complications, however, set in, and in spite of a
Surgeon specialist going over from Boulogne to operate, he was unable
to stand the strain, and he passed away on November 5th.”

Memorial notice on page 54 of De Astonian Magazine:
“Waller, Richard Maiden - born 10th March 1892, wounded in
action 10th October 1915 - died in Lahore hospital, Calais 5th November
1915. De Astonian January 1905 to July 1907.”

WALLEY

John
Clifford

Lieutenant,
"C" Company, 5th Battalion attachedd 7th Bn., Leicestershire
Regiment who was killed in action on Saturday, 23 March 1918. Age
21. Son of John and Sarah Walley, of Wadingham, Kirton Lindsey,
Lincs. No known grave. Comemorated on Pozieres Mmeorial, Somme,
France, Panel 29 and 30

School
Admissions Book:
“Walley John C., born 20 December 1896, admitted 16th September
1909, son of J.Walley, Schoolmaster of Waddingham, Kirton in Lindsey.
Left July 1914.”

Letter
page 103/104 of the De Astonian Magazine. Christmas 1916

“7th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment, B.E.F

Dear Sir, As it’s so near the end of the term I think it’s
about time I wrote you a line to let you know of my whereabouts,
or else perhaps the magazine will be going astray. I’ve been
out here a little over three months now and I’ve come to the
unshakeable conclusin that it’s abouttime this war was over.
From the little experience of it I’ve had, it is decidedly
“No bon” and I think the majority of people will be
glad when it’s “Na Poo”

Since I’ve been out I’ve had the pleasure of meeting
both Mr. Upex and W.R.Gibson. I met the former at the base. We happened
to be standing at the same street corner waiting for a tram when
we saw each other and the joy was mutual. We travelled up the line
together, and had a long talk about old times. It appears that he
had only recently visited the school and so was able to give me
the latest news. It was a week or two before I saw him again, and
then he told me he had come across Gibson in his Battalion. Afterwards
I had the pleasure of meeting him. He has been out 10 months and
is still going strong.

I haven't seen any actual fighting yet, that is I haven't taken
part in any of the great pushes, but I have become pretty well accustomed
to the monotony of trench life. Where I am at present the greater
part of one’s time is occupied in dodging “minewerfers”,
“rum-jars” and “Charlie Chaplins” species
of hostile trench mortars whose too near presence is most embarrassing.
I have found my training in the “long field very useful in
helping me to judge these Bosche souvenirs, and it is generally
considered by far the best plan to get out well out their way. We
take turns in doing duty in the trenches night and day, and I have
been very forcibly reminded on more than one of my night tours of
some of Shakespeare’s words. Wasn’t it in “Midsummer
Night’s Dream” that Helen in her pursuit of Demetrius
through the dark wood, speaks of inanimate things taking the form
of live things waiting to do harm ? Now I’m not at all sure
whether it comes in the play or not, but at all events it’s
in Shakespeare somewhere. Well ! That’s how it is here at
night. You think everything you see is a Bosche, that is of course
if you’ve got the “wind-up”. The other night I
challenged a post which was standing up-right from the parapet,
and on receiving no answer was about to clinch matters with my revolver,
when I realised I’d seen it there before and so I saved my
ammunition.

Our opportunities to discourse in French are not very frequent,
only when we’re lucky enough to get back into billets. Its
really wonderful how well the French people stand hearing their
beautiful language murdered, but at the same time they must have
learnt a lot of good French they’d never dreamt of before.
You’ll be interested to know that while I was with the 5th
I had the pleasure of partaking of some of Captain Barton’s
wedding cake. At our company mess I also heard one of the Officers
remark with regard to him that “the men adored him-they’d
follow him anywhere. He was a fighter, not merely a doctor”
I felt very proud to think that an old De Astonian was spoken of
in that way. I must stop now, and trust this last term has been
a most successful one in every respect, that the staff and all the
boys are “A.1.” I suppose I still know most of the boys.
Kind regards to all of them. I am looking forward to receiving the
School Magazine about Christmas time.

With very best wishes, yours sincerely, John Walley.”

Page
116 De Astonian Magazine

“We have been much pleased to have letters, which we print
below, from G Golland, and H Herring and J C Walley.

January 17, 1917

Dear
Sir,

I am sure you will be interested to hear that last term's School
Magazine has already been the means of bringing together two De
Astonians , who are now spending a very enjoyable afternoon together
in a small French town.

Lieut. Walley is hoping to come and see my entertainment tomorrow
evening. At the present he is operating with a gramophone , so I
am taking this opportunity of sending you a line. He asks me to
say that he is expecting to come on leave shortly, and is sending
his subscription as soon as he gets hold of an English two shilling
piece.

With many thanks from us both , for the ''De Astonian,'' which we
have each received safely, and with all the best wishes for the
school,

We are,

Yours very sincerely,

HUGH HERRING
JOHN WALLEY

”De
Aston Magazine Page 135

“Back in France

Tuesday, July 17th 1917

Dear Sir,

Just a line to let you know that I'm back again in this wretched
place terribly misnamed 'La Belle France'! Give me 'Perfidious Albion'
every time.

I was glad that I got over to see the old place. I have often left
it with far happier feelings than I had last Thursday. You will
be interested to hear that I came across the son of the late Mr
Woodthorpe Clarke of Binbrook, when going up the line. He happened
to mention Lincoln Cathedral, and I at once responded by asking
whether he chanced to Know that district. He was rather astounded
when I told him I had lunched at his house. I also told him that
my most vivid recollections of Binbrook concerned the ''grub'' we
got there. Please forgive the vulgar allusion, and believe me the
happy moments that I was privileged to spend at De Aston always
included meal times. I'm afraid you'll think my mind doesn't move
on a very high plane, but I assure you that I have nobler instincts.
Kindest regards and best wishes to all at De Aston.

Yours sincerely

JOHN WALLEY

“Obituary
on page 177 of the De Astonian Magazine.

“Killed in Action.
John Clifford Walley

It is with great sorrow that we record the death of Lieut. J.C.Walley,
the only son of Mr and Mrs Walley of Waddingham.

J.C.Walley was born in 1896 and came to De Aston in September 1909.
He passed the Cambridge Local Junior in 1911 obtaining 3rd Class
Honours, and he got the Senior with 2nd Class Honours in 1913 and
again in 1914. He was a keen Cricketer, a bowler rather than a bat,
though he headed the batting averages in 1914 with an average of
22.3 runs for 17 innings. In the two seasons 1913 and 1914 he took
altogether 60 wickets at an average of 8 runs apiece. At football
he made a fast and efficient outside left, and was a keen tennis
player, coming out winner of the handicap in 1913, and runner up
in the following year. He was a useful foreward at hockey. Walley
was a prefect from Midsummer 1912 until he left in 1914.

On leaving De Aston Walley entered the teaching profession, being
first of all stationed at the Wesleyan School, Market Rasen, and
afterwards at Epworth Elementary School. From Epworth he joined
the Artist Rifles O.T.C. in November 1915 as a Cadet. In June 1916
he was gazetted 2nd Lieut. In the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment.
He landed in France in September of t hat year and was attached
to the 7th Leicesters with whom he remained to the end. On May 3rd
1917 he was wounded in an attack at Fontaine. At the beginning of
March of this year, 1918, he receivedhis full Lieutenancy; and he
died fighting at Epehy on March 22nd., aged 21.

The report given by his commanding-officer, Lt-Col. Warden, and
countersigned by Lord Loch, Brigadier-General, and endorsed by him
as a “Very Good Report 22/9/17” is as follows:-

“A very good type of officer, cheerful, and exceptionally
smart at drill; has a very good military knowledge, especially musketry.
Is keen and good at sports. Has distinct powers of command and should
make an excellent platoon officer.”

The following is an extract from a letter received by his parents
from Capt. Vanner, and dated April 5th. 1918:-

“He was killed on the morning of the 22nd March at Epehy during
the heroic stand of our brigade. He held a post with his men until
completely surrounded, and died fighting.”

School
Admissions Book:
“Wybrow, John James. Born 21st September 1894. Entered School
September 17th 1908. Son of Mary Wybrow of Ivy ? Cottage, Ludford.
Left Easter 1909. Killed in Action European War May 1915”

De
Astonian Magazine: Page 35
“In loving Memory of Private John Whybrow, 17714, 1st Battalion.
Sherwood Foresters, aged 21 years, who was killed in Action, in
France, on Sunday, May 9th, 1915.

“For his Country’s sake”

Copy of Letter received from his comrades at the Front: France May
19th, 1915.

"Dear Mrs Whybrow, I am writing you these few lines to you
because it is my duty to do so, and not because I wish to hurt
your feelings. Your dear son ( and my friend) was killed in action
on Sunday May 9th 1915, during an attack by our Regiment on the
German lines. At first he was missing, but since then we have
found his body and have buried him in a Soldier’s Grave.
Buried him where he died – right in the German lines and
we fixed up a cross, “Private J.Whybrow, 1st Sherwood Foresters,
RIP."

I can say without fear of contradiction that he was respected by
all his comrades and others who came in contact with him, and when
we climbed the parapet to charge he was one of the first to go over,
despite the fact that the Germans had a Maxim Gun trained on us
– and he lived as he died, fearlessly – for , out and
in the trenches, he neither saw nor looked for danger, but always
did his duty.

He told me to divide his parcels among his section should he get
killed – and so I have fulfilled his request, and if I am
not asking too great a thing, may I keep your photograph, as an
everlasting reminder of one of the truest chums I ever had, because
in your photograph I, can see his face, very plainly. All his friends
unite with me in offering our heartfelt sympathy to you in your
terrible bereavement.

WELTON-LE-WOLD
Missing. — We regret to report at Mr. and Mrs. H. Smith, the
School House , have received official information that their younger
son, Sergeant Roy Smith. R.A.F., V.R., wireless operator and air
gunner., is missing after, operational nights. Sergt. Smith was
educated at the De Aston Grammar School. Market Rasen, and later
went to the Midland Agricultural College. After a short period with
Messrs. Meson. Sons and Fuller, of Louth, he became costing clerk
and surveyor to a government contracting firm, prior to joining
the R.A.F.